Thread: Southern Tablelands Shipping Container Build

Three and a half weeks living here and I'm loving the quiet (except for the occasional distant cow conversations)

Solar is holding up exceptionally well. First time I used the oven during the day (new oven so it was recommended turning on max power for 45 minutes to burn off residue). I checked the battery level before I started and at the end and there was practically no difference. So that is encouraging.

Have been doing a lot of minor things as well as plastering and painting.

I moved into the main bedroom (gyprocked but unsanded and not painted) while I concentrated on finishing the guest bedroom:
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I've ordered a small single wardrobe, plus I need a dressing mirror on the wall, plus a double bed - but the room is basically done.

So now I am sleeping in the guest room while I finish off the main bed.

The bathroom is now finished except for the cupboard enclosing the laundry tub and washing machine. This isn't urgent so is further down the 'to do' list.
Window frame and architrave are painted, towel rail, robe hooks and mirror installed:
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Kitchen has the kickboard installed, and an old bookcase being used as pantry shelving until I build the floor to ceiling shelves for the cupboard in the same spot.

The toaster and coffee machine and temporarily situated until I build the cupboard to house them.
The fridge will also be in a door-less cupboard with storage overhead.
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What to do when you haven't built a wardrobe yet:
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And the halo light really does take on a halo quality when lit:
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Neighbour took some drone footage for me. (Recent rain has now greened everything up):
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First evening I spent here when coming back after returning the removal truck, I was greeted by around 80 -90 kangaroos all around the house and this sunset.
A nice welcome I thought!
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And a strange albino rainbow (!!) on my morning walk a couple of days ago:
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TTFN.

With kitchens, people refer to a triangle layout. That’s the relative positions of the stove, fridge, and sink. There are also rules about distances between those things. I think it has to do with having everything in the best position for efficiency. For good access and to prevent you from walking around too much.

As you have it, all three are in a straight line. Consider building some bench space where the fridge is currently and moving the fridge to where you are standing to take the photo. Perhaps the pantry can go next to the fridge.

You might check out some plans from the web to see if you can work the idea.

Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

As you have it, all three are in a straight line. Consider building some bench space where the fridge is currently and moving the fridge to where you are standing to take the photo. Perhaps the pantry can go next to the fridge.

That would put the fridge right in the middle of the space linking the lounge/dining to the kitchen! so..umm NO!

Also that is where the kitchen island is going.

Thanks for the suggestion but I've spent a long time planning this and I'm very happy with the way thing are.

Kitchens in a short line like that are very common in apartments and work well when there is only "two and a half steps" from "A to C". Adding an island will provide valuable working space.

Love that sunset!

Originally Posted by r3nov8or

Kitchens in a short line like that are very common in apartments and work well when there is only "two and a half steps" from "A to C". Adding an island will provide valuable working space.

Love that sunset!

It is such a small kitchen everything is almost in arms reach from the one spot! Once the coffee machine and toaster have been moved, I will have bench space between the sink and stove plus the kitchen island surface is all prep area.
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As mentioned int the previous post, I had been sleeping in the guest room while I plastered, sanded and painted the main bedroom:
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A strip of sand paper taped to my plastering blade made a great tool for sanding up inside the shadowline profile:
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With windows on three sides, the light creates very interesting shapes and shadows:
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I painted the wall behind the bed charcoal as I planned to hang my 3 new Indigenous paintings there. I saw it in a gallery once and thought the colour worked really well with the colours used in Aboriginal paintings.
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Before I could install my new paintings I had to frame them as they came rolled up in tubes.

I use 42x19 pine with quarter dowel around the edge - this lifts the canvas away from the frame and stops the inner side of the frame showing on the painting:
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Once painting was finished I moved back into this room
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I found a small wardrobe for the guest room and a wall dressing mirror:
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Every time I buy something largish for the house the cardboard goes on the floor to help protect the Tasmanian oak floorboards - I swear the ceiling is looking a lot closer!
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Then I bought a bed and side tables (which are not what I want but I haven't yet found what's in my head in a shop!!)

These cube stands were only $11 each and were narrow enough for the space (320mm) and will suffice until I find what I want.

The artwork above the bed is by a good friend of mine in Norway, the little steel shadow boxer on the side stand is one of mine made about 30 years ago. Now the room just needs carpet and the blind to go up.:
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Then it was back to the final area to finish - the lounge/dining area.

Lots of gyprocking, plastering and painting to do here.
Currently putting up the ceiling gyprock:
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One section to go and I ran out of insulation. I am teaching the next 2 days so I can pick up some when I am in town.

It's as dry as here ATM. Very little rain over the past 3 months. The ground is brown and the grass is getting crunchy underfoot as it did 3 years ago during the drought. Last night a terrific storm blew over, dark ominous clouds, lots of lightening and... 1mm of rain😒

But the callistemons have been fiery this year:
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And the 'roos haven't deserted me!!
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This is going to be 1 awesome home when finished

I agree with Ray. Awesome!

Regards
Paul

Stunning build,it looks awesome.

Cheers Matt.

So, you frame your own pictures. Good on you, for that.

I haven’t done much cutting at 45 degs. I spent a lot of effort on a deck. once. Then the boards shrunk and it looked stupid. That was disappointing. My saw has a little click at the 45 deg point, which is nice in principle, but the trouble with that is that there’s a bit of slop in that click-thing. So, when it comes to it I have to assume I have approx 45 and not precisely 45 degrees. Which is probably good enough for most things.

I had wondered, given that I don’t know the real angle my machine is set to, that if I flip the board for the subsequent cut all will be good. For example, if the machine is set to 44-and ¾ deg and I do the first cut with it, then when I flip the board upside down on the next cut it will cut at 45-and ¼ deg. Total: 90. Though, I found that my blade leaves a perfectly crisp line on one side and an uneven edge on the other where the teeth have ripped the wood fibres ragged. You don’t really want ragged edges on the upper surface. So, while that seemed like a good idea at the time I'm not so sure it is.

I wonder how companies that are in the business of framing pictures manage to get a perfect 45 that has no burrs. Maybe a sander that’s set to 45 degrees too.

Anyway, I’m impressed that you are doing this yourself.

They use mitre trimmers like this https://www.timbecon.com.au/hand-mitre-trimmer

Nifty!

Presumably, some effort was made in the manufacture of the tool to ensure 45 degrees; unlike my crap mitre saw that has inbuilt slop.

Or if in the business, a Morso
MORSO F DELUXE manual miter cutting machine (N20005)

Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

So, you frame your own pictures. Good on you, for that.

I haven’t done much cutting at 45 degs. I spent a lot of effort on a deck. once. Then the boards shrunk and it looked stupid. That was disappointing. My saw has a little click at the 45 deg point, which is nice in principle, but the trouble with that is that there’s a bit of slop in that click-thing. So, when it comes to it I have to assume I have approx 45 and not precisely 45 degrees. Which is probably good enough for most things.

Anyway, I’m impressed that you are doing this yourself.

I had to laugh - as I was reading your comment I was like 'Yup...Yup, me too.. same here"!! I have exactly the same situation as you down to the crap mitre saw and the uncertain 45 deg click! And my beautiful mitred corner decking has also shrunk and left a gap.😒

But the good thing with the canvas frame is the corners are covered by the painting and the back is never seen (except by me!) so it doesn't matter too much if the mitre is a little off. I like your theory about reversing the 2nd cut - must try that. I think if I wanted a corner that was permanently on show I'd probably pay a professional, my woodworking skills are not fine enough for that..